Steering mechanism for dirigible air-ships.



No. 728,844. PATENTED MAY '26, 1903.

L. A.- BOSWELL. STEERING MECHANISM FOR DIRIGIBLB AIR SHIPS.

APPLIOATION FILED SEPT. 24. 1901.

N0 MODEL.

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UNITED STATES Patented Ma 26, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

LEWIS A. BOSWELL, OF EASTABOGA, ALABAMA.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 728,844, dated May 26, 1903.

Application filed September 24, 1901. Serial No. 76,365. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LEWIS A. BOSWELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Eastaboga, in the county of Talladega and State of Alabama, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Steering Mechanism for Dirigible Air-Ships; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention has relation to the steering mechanism of dirigible air-ships, whereby the ascent, descent, sweep in circles, and departure from a direct line either to the right or to the left are wholly under control.

The improvement consists, essentially, of.

the novel features, details of construction, and combinations of parts which hereinafter will be more particularly set forth, illustrated, and finally claimed.

In the drawings forming a part of the specification, Figure lis a perspective view of the deck of an air-ship provided with steering mechanism embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a front view, the dotted lines showing an adjusted position of the aeroplane. Fig. 3 is a vertical central longitudinal section, the dotted lines showing different posi tions of the component parts of the aeroplane.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

The ship (not shown) may be of any make or design and is provided with the deck 1, upon which is mounted the pilot-house 2, above whichis arranged the aeroplane. Within the pilot-house are located two drums 3 and 4 at different elevations, the drum 3 being in a higher plane than the drum 4 and arranged at a right angle thereto. The cordage for operating the sections of the aeroplane and the rudder is connected to these drums in the manner presently to be explained in detail. These drums are adapted to be rotated by any convenient means and, as shown, cranks 5 have connection with the upper drum 3 and a crank 6 with the lower drum 4:. An arch or bow 7 rises from the pilot-house 2 and supports the aeroplane in such a manner as to plane in every possible direction.

admit of its universal movement to cause the car or ship to travel in the desired direction. The aeroplane has direct connection with the central portion of the arch or bow, so as to turn and tilt thereon, the connection 8 being such as to admit of the movement of the aero- The aeroplane is composed of sections 9 and 10, flexibly or hingedly connected. The front section 9 is approximately of fan shape-that is, it is widened toward the front end and contracted toward the rear end, the front corners being rearwardly curved. The edges of the section are straight and forwardly diverged.

,The section 9 is connected about centrally with the arch or bow 7. The rear section 10 is comparatively narrow and is hingedly contant so long as they are adapted to flex on a line corresponding to the juncture of the two sections. The aeroplane is moved toward and from a horizontal plane transversely by means of cords or ropes 11 and 11", which have connection at their upper ends with the extremities of the section 9 and have their lower ends connected to the drum 4 and reversely wound thereon, so-that upon turning the drum at either to the right or to the left one of the cords is wound upon the drum and the other unwound, with the result that one side of the aeroplane is thrown up and the other side down, thereby causing the ship to travel in a circle the sweep of which is determined by the position of the aeroplane. The aeroplane is tilted longitudinally toward and from a horizontal line by cords or ropes 12 12 and 13 13, which have their lower ends attached to the drum 3 and reversely wound thereon. The cords 12 12 have their upper ends attached to the section 9 and the cords or ropes 13 13 to the section 10. Upon turning the drum 3 either to the right or the left one set of cords is wound upon the drum and the other set unwound, thereby simultaneously changing the longitudinal inclination of the sections 9 and 10 to cause the ship either to ascend or to descend, as required. The front cord or rope 13 passes over the adjacent ends of the sec- ICO tions 9 and 10, thence through an opening in the front section 9 and around the rear side of the drum 3. The rear cord or rope 13 passes around the front side of the drum 3 and directly to the section 10. Upon turning the drum 3 tolower the rear end of the section 9 the rear end of the section is correspondingly elevated, and upon turning the drum in the opposite direction to elevate the rear end of the section the rear end of the section 10 is lowered. This has been found necessary in order to balance the ship and cause the plane to effectively ride upon the air, so as tocause the ship to move in the desired direction.

The rudder 14, hinged to the rear end of the deck, is controlled by cords 0r ropes 15 15, extending to the drum 4 and attached to and reversely wound therein. It will thus be seen that the rudder is simultaneously moved with the up-and-down transverse movement of the aeroplane. When one side of the planeis moved downward,therudderis caused to swing toward the same side, and when'the opposite side of the aeroplane is moved downward the rudder swings toward this side. Hence there is a mutual cooperation between the aeroplane and rudder with reference to controlling the sweep, lateral swirling, or circling of the ship.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is- 1. In a dirigible air-ship, an aeroplane composed of front and rear sections flexibly connected, a drum, cords connecting the front andrear parts of the front section with the said drum, said cords being connected at one end to the said parts and at the other end to the drum and reversely wound thereon, and

other cords having connection with the rear section and attached to and reversely wound upon the said drum, one of the last-mentioned cords passing over the adjacent ends of the sections, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a dirigible air-ship, an aeroplane mounted for movement toward and from the horizontal laterally, a rudder, a drum, and cords connecting the aeroplane and rudder with the said drum, whereby the aeroplane and rudder are moved simultaneously toward the same side, as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

LEWIS A. BOSWELL. [L. 8.]

Witnesses: J F. B. BOWIE, S. J. J OHNSON. 

